Between April 2024 and March 2025, Senegal grappled with an unprecedented migration crisis, facing challenges as a country of origin, transit and destination.  A significant increase in irregular departures, particularly via the dangerous Atlantic route to the Canary Islands characterised this period, while the national authorities were struggling to respond to the rapidly evolving situation. This issue is explored in one of the key chapters of the collective work SUNU GIS-GIS: From Protest to Power – Diomaye Faye’s Journey to the Presidency, published by the AfrikaJom Center.

The Atlantic route: a deadly crossing

The toll is devastating. Between January and August 2024, more than 25,500 migrants — mostly Senegalese and other West Africans — arrived in the Canary Islands. However, behind these numbers lie countless lives lost at sea. Harsh economic conditions and a severe lack of opportunity continue to drive thousands of young people to risk everything on the Atlantic route, which is now considered one of the deadliest migration corridors in the world.

In response, the Senegalese navy intensified its efforts, intercepting and rescuing nearly 1,000 people in November 2024 alone. Yet interception is not the end of the ordeal. For many migrants who are stopped or repatriated, precariousness remains a daily reality. With limited access to legal assistance, psychosocial support or economic reintegration programmes, they remain vulnerable. Organisations such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) play a vital role in filling this gap by providing emergency aid, advocating for migrant rights and offering support systems to ease the difficult journey home.

Weak implementation undermines  robust legal framework

Senegal has established a robust legal and administrative framework for protecting migrants, refugees and stateless persons. The Senegalese Constitution enshrines the right to mobility while the 2022 Law on the Status of Refugees and Stateless Persons established a specialised National Commission to oversee protection measures. The country is also a signatory to several key international conventions, including the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. 

However, despite this strong legal foundation, implementation remains a major challenge. Limited financial and human resources, combined with bureaucratic inertia, hinder the effective application of legal protections. Transit migrants and stateless individuals, in particular, often struggle to access registration mechanisms and legal assistance. Reports of refoulement – the forced return of migrants at the borders with Mauritania and Mali, which are likely to continue into 2024 and 2025 – highlight persistent gaps in the protection of fundamental rights. Such practices raise serious concerns about Senegal’s compliance with its international obligations.

Senegal as both host and transit country

Not only is Senegal a point of departure, it is also a major transit and host country, accommodating around 200,000 migrants from neighbouring states. Its political stability makes it a popular destination for people fleeing regional conflicts, particularly in Mali and Guinea.

Despite this, reception conditions remain challenging. In urban centres, most migrants and refugees work in the informal sector, accounting for 90% of employment in Senegal according to the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2020. Those without legal residency have limited access to essential services such as healthcare and education. The most vulnerable are particularly susceptible to exploitation and criminal networks.

European cooperation and border militarisatio

The period from 2024 to 2025 saw an intensification of cooperation with the European Union. In October 2024, for example, the EU allocated €30 million to Senegal to strengthen border control as part of a policy of externalising migration. This financial windfall has resulted in the increased militarisation of Senegal’s coastal surveillance.

Meanwhile, negotiations with the European border and coast guard agency Frontex regarding its operational activities in Senegal were likely to have progressed, potentially strengthening the administrative framework for border management. However, no formal agreement had been reached by March 2025.

Recommendations for more humane migration management

In light of the current challenges, urgent and coordinated action is needed to ensure a more humane and rights-based approach to migration governance. 

The report recommends the following measures to authorities: 

• Strengthen the capacity of the National Commission for Refugees and Stateless Persons to expedite application processing and improve access to legal status, healthcare and other essential services; 
• Expand humanitarian assistance programmes to repatriated migrants and refugees in close partnership with international organisations such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); 
• Coordinate migration management with neighbouring countries to reduce instances of refoulement and ensure compliance with ECOWAS and African Union (AU) protocols on the free movement of persons and the protection of migrants; 

Senegal is at a critical juncture. Striking a balance between effective border control and the protection of fundamental rights will be a key challenge in the months ahead.